Animals inspire my life and my art (http://sarahhauser.neoimages.net). This blog is about my journey with animals, and especially my connection to them through my work with them as a Tellington TTouch Practitioner for Companion Animals and Reiki Master with special certification in Animal Reiki. I also incorporate Debono Moves, Bach Flower remedies and Chakra Healing and into my practice. Thank you to all the animals and people who continually teach me as I continue this journey.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Sharing Energy with Monk: Comfort, Peace, and Optimal Balance for Chronic Renal Failure, Part One

Monk is a dear cat who I initially was called to work with because he was urinating outside of the box. I taught his owner, Suzanne, how to do some of the TTouches, and then the subsequent appointments I did with him were Reiki sessions. He came to recognize the energy and would completely relax into it, stretching out on the bed with a look of bliss. More recently though, he was diagnosed with chronic renal failure. I had not seen Monk for quite a while, and Suzanne had called me to cat sit for Monk and his cat girlfriend Jade, and when I saw Monk, I felt so strongly that I wanted to help. I could see that Monk’s appetite and life force was rapidly diminishing. I had such a strong sense that the work would be of help to him now, not to mention that I have a very strong bond with Monk - and I felt that sessions should be as often as every day at first, so Suzanne and I worked out an arrangement for that to happen without placing a financial burden on her, as she was out of work.

Monk has taken to basically living outside on Suzanne’s terrace, resting in the plant boxes, and sometimes stretching out on the deck. Unfortunately, for the first appointment, it was raining, so we had to bring him inside. Though he was resisting being inside, I did feel him absorbing the energy, and I knew it would be good to follow up with another appointment soon, when I could work with him out on the terrace.

A few days later I came to see him. I sat with him outside on the terrace. I moved a couple of times to get a bit closer to him but really let him set the pace. I felt he wanted me to be at least 4-5 feet away, for the most part. But at times he would come closer to me. And I could feel him really settling into the energy again, as though he was becoming re-acquainted with the energy, and with me, gradually trusting more and more and letting me in. Throughout the appointment, I silently sent him the message to only take as much or as little energy as he wanted, and reassured him that I was there to help him. I kept picturing the energy as a soft white blanket that was moving over him and being absorbed into his body, and the white light moving through the inside of his body and healing his body.

Suzanne had left a handful of dry food out for Monk to eat, and at various points he wandered to it and ate it little by little. Quite often during a Reiki session, an animal’s appetite can be stimulated. By the end of the session, he had eaten all the dry food. Suzanne said that was really a lot for him, as in recent days he usually will only very reluctantly eat about four kernels of the dry food.

At various points during the session, Monk stretched out on his side, looking very comfortable. It was a hot day, but where we were sitting, in the shade, it was really quite comfortable, and hearing the sounds of the birds, the sound of the breeze , the rustling of the leaves of the plants, it made so much sense to me that this is where he is comfortable right now. The energy was very quiet and peaceful. It felt a bit like a dream state. When I heard the nearby church bells ringing on the hour, they almost seemed a bit distorted.

When I left, I kept feeling like Monk was in this curious limbo – obviously he is in very fragile condition, but he still has energy and is engaged with his surroundings and situation. As if some greater force is giving him a bit more time, quiet time on earth, before he moves into the spirit world.

I was leaving town in two days, and wanted to go with the momentum of what was happening with him, so I went the next day for another appointment. This time, he came right to me, wanting affection, so I did some gentle TTouches with him. At various points during the Reiki session, he would come to me, rubbing his face against my hand. This time, he settled even more into the energy, and wanted me to be closer to him to send the energy, though not directly hands-on. Especially with animals who are in frail condition, it is usually most beneficial to send Reiki with your hands at least a bit off of the body, as it can be too overwhelming.

This time, Monk ate even more of the food than he had the day before. And Suzanne had said that after the appointment the day before, he had eaten more food. So this was really a shift.

Again, I kept picturing the white light energy moving through his body, soothing and healing. Recently I have been incorporating the essences of colors into the Reiki work that I do. Sometimes I will purposely send a specific color with a certain intention, but sometimes a color will come to me, though I may not be sure of the why of it.

Monk seemed to be more comfortable in his body this time, and there even seemed to be more life in his eyes.

At the end of the session, he was laying near me, on his side, doing the cute thing of having a paw partway over one eye. I felt so much love passing back and forth, such an energy of pure love, healing and love. Reiki feels that way, an energy filled with light and love that strengthens and expands as the animal becomes comfortable with you and trusts you.Since I returned from town, his energy and appetite has improved even more, and I will tell you more about that in the next posting!!